What is the succulent plant Faucaria felina? A complete guide

Faucaria felina is a succulent plant in the family Aizoaceae, genus Faucaria. It likes warmth and dislikes intense heat and severe cold; it goes dormant in summer and needs 50% shade, frequent misting while controlling watering, as rain exposure or overwatering easily causes rot. During the autumn and winter growing season it needs ample light and appropriate fertilizer and water. Its leaf shape and color are quite attractive, giving it ornamental value; potted plants can be placed beside televisions and computers to absorb radiation, and can also be grown indoors to absorb substances such as formaldehyde and purify the air.

Faucaria felina

The plant grows in dense clumps and is very succulent; the leaves are decussate (crosswise opposite), united at the base, with triangular tips; the epidermis along the leaf margins and the keel on the leaf underside is hardened into a hard film; most leaf surfaces bear fleshy teeth, and the leaf margins have coarse fleshy cilia; the flowers are large and stalkless, mostly yellow in color; it goes dormant in summer.

Faucaria felina

It likes warmth and dislikes intense heat and severe cold; it goes dormant in summer and needs appropriate shade, frequent misting while controlling watering, as rain exposure or overwatering easily causes rot. During the autumn and winter growing season it needs ample light and appropriate fertilizer and water. As long as you master the key points of the summer dormancy period, such as water control, ventilation, shading and stopping fertilizer, you can grow it successfully.

Faucaria felina

Cultivation techniques:

It is not very suitable for mixed planting with other succulents, because its care is very troublesome; especially in the hot summer, it will rot with the slightest neglect. Grown on its own it does very well; once the root system is strong, it will burst into a beautiful full pot.

Propagation methods:

Mainly by division, preferably carried out in spring or autumn.